Late-night Korean set with free parking near Balsan: Mikodam

Five minutes from Balsan Station: first impressions of Mikodam

I was craving a proper, tidy Korean meal and came across a place I really loved. Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch is a Korean restaurant in Magok that's a five-minute walk from Exit 4 of Balsan Station, so it's super easy to get to by public transit. Even in the dark, its bright lights make it stand out from far away. It's in the Magok business district, so it's not a quiet, out-of-the-way spot — the whole area is full of big restaurants.

What about parking?

At Mikodam you really don't need to worry about parking. There's a parking garage across four floors with 77 spaces, so plenty of room. Hand over your parking receipt at the restaurant and they'll stamp it for 3 hours free.

Atmosphere and seating

I went close to last order, so most of the customers had cleared out, but the space is spotlessly clean — no clutter at all. The interior looks genuinely upscale, and the lighting isn't dim, it's bright with a warm feel. The tables come in various sizes, 4-tops and 6-tops, spacious enough to suit gatherings and events too.

The white-toned baby chairs are neatly arranged, and every table has an ordering kiosk and paper cups. They give you a free rolled egg (gyeranmari) if you leave a review — unlike places that just hand out a drink, the owner here is generous 👍

Picking the menu and required options

Most people order this set menu according to their headcount — it's great value, so I recommend it. You do need to pick required options: the seaweed soup comes in beef, flounder or abalone, with abalone adding ₩4,000. Cockles come soy-marinated or vinegar-dressed, and the main is beef jeon, Jeju soy crab, or LA galbi, with LA galbi adding ₩20,000.

Side-dish refills via kiosk

They also sell items à la carte, for reference. But the best part for me was that side-dish refills can be ordered through the kiosk. I initially wondered if I'd need to pay extra, but aside from adding mackerel, all refills are free. And there's a menu with photos for every side dish, so you just tap the one you want and they bring it out! I used to feel awkward asking staff every time, so this system is fantastic — top marks 👍

What comes with the hansang-gadeuk 2-person set?

We ordered the hansang-gadeuk (table-full) 2-person set. True to its name, we got a real full-table spread — it looked so plentiful I genuinely didn't know where to start 😅 Let me walk you through each dish.

Basic side dishes

The basic side dishes came out first: three-colored namul (seasoned vegetables), geotjeori (fresh kimchi), jellyfish salad, seaweed, japchae, stir-fried pork, pickled vegetables, and chicory salad — a mouth-watering spread. As mentioned above, refills are available. Nothing was overly strong or MSG-tasting, so it really suited my palate — a flavor older folks would love.

Abalone seaweed soup

Even though it's part of the set, this seaweed soup would be worth ordering on its own. We picked abalone, and it had such a deep, oceanic flavor that I kept dipping into it alongside the side dishes.

Two large abalones went in, matching the headcount, and they looked plump and fresh. They even give you separate scissors for cutting the abalone. The seaweed wasn't tough at all — very soft and easy to swallow. It's basically a restorative dish.

Soy-marinated cockles

Between soy-marinated and vinegar-dressed, I think we chose well with soy. The sauce doesn't overpower it, so you can really taste the cockles themselves. I was also surprised by how generous the portion was. It's great as a side over plain rice, and just as good mixed into the three-colored namul and other side dishes — a cockle dish with a chewy texture you don't get tired of.

Beef jeon (medium)

This was my favorite dish. This is what the medium-size beef jeon looks like, and of course it's included in the set. Thin-sliced beef coated in egg and pan-fried to a golden brown — it looks so appetizing. Not much fat, so it's light, and wrapping it in chives doubles the flavor and really whets your appetite.

Grilled mackerel

No fishy taste at all — very clean flavor. It's seasoned to a degree already, but if you want it stronger, dip it in soy sauce. The flesh is soft, so the skin peels off easily, making it easy to eat. The bones aren't thick or numerous, so it's good for kids too.

Stir-fried pork (jeyuk bokkeum)

Last, the stir-fried pork... the seasoning is savory and the pork isn't cut too thick, which makes it even better. Nicely tender at the right thickness, and wrapping it in seaweed made it even more delicious. Not a single dish here that wasn't good.

After the meal: palate cleansers and the birthday perk

Near the entrance there's puffed corn snacks (gangnyeong-i) and plum tea/sikhye/coffee, great for cleansing your palate at the end!! The puffed corn is kept in a rice cooker so you can eat it warm 😃

If you visit within a week before or after your birthday, you get a free large beef jeon. Such a generous, big-hearted owner 👍

Overall thoughts

I've been to plenty of hanjeongsik places, but it's rare to find one where you don't feel like the money was wasted~! It's not just about piling on lots of dishes for the sake of it — every single dish tasted like real care went into it. I left completely full and immediately thought about bringing my parents here next time~!! The owner and staff are kind too, and there's nothing lacking about this restaurant — an absolute standout, so definitely stop by 🤩